Teen social media ban takes effect in Australia

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - Australia has begun implementing the world’s first nationwide ban on social media accounts for minors under 16.

With the ban in effect as of Wednesday Australian time, those younger than 16 will now be prohibited from using or maintaining profiles on major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and others.

Hundreds of thousands of Australian teens were reported to have active accounts on social media before the ban, including some 440,000 age 13-15 on Snapchat, roughly 350,000 on Instagram, 325,000 on YouTube, and more than 200,000 on TikTok.

Since Australia’s move, a number of countries have been taking steps in the same direction, amid growing concerns over social media's effects on growing brains, mental health, and learning.